Electrolytic pot for production of aluminum using the Hall-Héroult process comprising cooling means

Abstract

An electrolytic pot for the production of aluminum by the Hall-Héroult electrolysis process includes a cooling device for blowing air with localized jets, advantageously with variable flow, in order to evacuate and dissipate thermal energy from the pot. An aluminum production plant using the Hall-Héroult electrolysis process has at least some pots which, either individually or in common, include at least one cooling device.

What is claimed is:  
     
       1. Electrolytic pot for production of aluminum by the Hall-Héroult electrolysis process comprising: 
       a shell,  
       internal lining elements in said shell,  
       a cathodic assembly also in said shell, and  
       at least one cooling device including an air distributor, an air propulsion apparatus positioned to pulse air into the air distributor, and localized air blowers distributed around the shell.  
     
     
       2. Pot according to claim  1 , further comprising a mechanism that varies air flow from the cooling device. 
     
     
       3. Pot according to claim  2 , wherein the mechanism includes at least one valve that varies air flow from the air propulsion apparatus. 
     
     
       4. Pot according to claim  2 , wherein the mechanism is a device that regulates voltage supplied to the air blowers so that air flow therefrom is varied. 
     
     
       5. Pot according to claim  1 , further comprising a regulation system that controls the cooling device. 
     
     
       6. Pot according to claim  1 , wherein the cooling device is segmented so as to be at least partly removable. 
     
     
       7. Pot according to claim  1 , wherein the cooling device is assembled adjacent to external side walls of the shell. 
     
     
       8. Pot according to claim  1 , wherein the localized air blowers include a plurality of localized jets. 
     
     
       9. Pot according to claim  1 , further comprising a valve that varies air flow from at least one of the localized air blowers. 
     
     
       10. Pot according to claim  1 , wherein at least one of the localized air blowers is adjustable in direction. 
     
     
       11. Pot according to claim  1 , wherein the localized air blowers are chosen from the group consisting of regulating nozzles, ejectors, blast pipes, jet nozzles and pipes. 
     
     
       12. Pot according to claim  1 , wherein the localized blowers spray blown air at a speed of between 10 and 100 meters per second. 
     
     
       13. Pot according to claim  12 , wherein the localized blowers spray blown air at a speed between 20 and 70 meters per second. 
     
     
       14. Pot according to claim  1 , wherein the air propulsion apparatus is chosen from the group consisting of fans, compressed air blowers, expanded compressed air systems and high pressure air networks. 
     
     
       15. Pot according to claim  1 , wherein the air distributor comprises air conveyers. 
     
     
       16. Pot according to claim  15 , wherein the air conveyers are ducts. 
     
     
       17. Pot according to claim  15 , wherein the localized blowers are distributed along the air conveyers. 
     
     
       18. Pot according to claim  15 , wherein the air conveyers form branches. 
     
     
       19. Pot according to claim  15 , wherein the air conveyers surround the shell at least in part. 
     
     
       20. Pot according to claim  1 , wherein a crucible is formed inside the shell by the lining elements and the cathodic assembly, said crucible having internal side walls composed of preformed blocks. 
     
     
       21. Aluminum production plant using the Hall-Héroult electrolysis process, wherein the plant comprises: 
       a plurality of electrolytic pots, each pot having a shell, internal lining elements in said shell, and a cathodic assembly also in said shell, and  
       at least one cooling device that blows air around at least one of the plurality of electrolytic pots, said cooling device including an air distributor, an air propulsion apparatus positioned to pulse air into the air distributor, and localized air blowers distributed around each shell.  
     
     
       22. Plant according to claim  21 , wherein at least two pots share at least one cooling device in common. 
     
     
       23. Plant according to claim  21 , wherein at least two pots share the air propulsion apparatus in common. 
     
     
       24. Plant according to claim  23 , wherein the common air propulsion apparatus is a network having a common main duct and a connection point for each of the plurality of pots to distribute the air flow. 
     
     
       25. Plant according to claim  24 , wherein each connection point includes at least one valve to isolate an associated pot at the connection point and with at least one vent to rebalance a distribution of air flows. 
     
     
       26. Plant according to claim  21 , further comprising a regulation system that controls the cooling device common to at least two pots. 
     
     
       27. Plant according to claim  21 , further comprising valves that vary air flow from the cooling device. 
     
     
       28. Plant according to claim  21 , further comprising a device that regulates voltage supplied to the air blowers so that air flow therefrom is varied.